It is estimated that last year more than 4,000 people died from the heat in Germany.
Elke Schilling runs Silbernetz, a helpline for seniors. In summer, the topic most listened to by its operators is the heat: “They fear that the day will get hotter and they won’t be able to go out because it’s too hot. They tell us they don’t know how to get food because they can’t go out and shop.”
It is estimated that last year **more than 4,000 people died from heat in Germany.**The country’s Ministry of Health has created a website to try to reduce these numbers. It details what local governments can do to help the most vulnerable, including children and the elderly.
It is part of a national plan to improve the response to heat waves. The Ministry affirms that they are becoming more frequent due to climate change. The Government affirms that it follows the example of France.
**Scientists say that cities are especially affected by heat waves.**Dense infrastructure traps heat. What can lower temperatures? The parks and the trees.
Climatologist Diego Rybski, from the Potsdam Institute for Climate Research, says that adding green space to cities is not expensive:“Currently the tenure is in what is called redensification, filling the empty spaces in the city and it is the opposite of what we really need. We need more green spaces between the buildings, but now the green spaces are full of buildings.”
The German Ministry of Health says that more projects will start in the middle of summer, including possible telephone alerts. Euronews has asked the Ministry of Health when this system will be implemented, but they assure that they cannot give a calendar.
As for Elke, she says she feels lucky to be in good health to weather the heat waves. But he struggles on: “It’s too hot, and I’m getting weak and angry and helpless and I don’t like feeling helpless.”
